MIDDLE EAST DISRUPTION WEIGHS ON AIR CARGO MARKETS
On 29 April, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) published its latest air cargo market data for March 2026, showing a decline in global demand amid significant disruptions linked to the conflict in the Middle East.
Total air cargo demand, measured in cargo tonne-kilometres (CTKs), fell by 4.8% compared to March 2025 levels (-5.5% for international operations). Capacity, measured in available cargo tonne-kilometres (ACTKs), decreased by 4.7% (-6.8% for international operations).
The decline was primarily driven by severe disruptions at major Gulf hubs, which significantly affected global network connectivity. At the same time, jet fuel prices rose sharply in March, increasing by 106.6% year-on-year, alongside a 43.1% rise in crude oil prices and a significant surge in refining margins, adding further cost pressures on the sector.
Trade lane performance also varied significantly. Routes such as Europe–Asia (+14.2%) continued to expand, while traffic between Europe and the Middle East fell by 57.6%, and between the Middle East and Asia by 58.6%.
Willie Walsh, IATA’s Director General, noted stressed that air cargo networks continue to provide flexibility to global supply chains as they adjust to geopolitical and operational pressures. However, fuel supply and price developments are expected to remain a key challenge for the sector in the coming months.
Source: IATA